Lately I have been inspired to continue my Iowa barn series using the square design format. I began by choosing the 300 pound watercolor paper for the support, plus my many bags of saved collage paper scraps. My goal was a strong design using the bright, saturated colors and bold shapes. No specific local color was used — I wanted the composition to be whimsical.

This is a red and purple barn with lots of lively chickens pecking in the foreground. It is a ramshackle henhouse with a peachy-colored sky. I wanted to combine colors that I do not usually use. The results were pleasing to me and I began the next barn allowing the colors and whimsy to continue this series.